Stay up to date with notifications from The IndependentNotifications can be managed in browser preferences.AllNewsSportCultureLifestyleFor years, doctors and advocates have pushed for better food on hospital trays (AFP via Getty)Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. announced new federal dietary guidelines which hospitals are mandated to follow, promoting increased consumption of red meat, eggs, and full-fat dairy, aiming to "Make America Healthy." This federal directive contradicts a growing trend in hospitals, such as NYC Health + Hospitals, which have successfully implemented plant-based default meal programs for patients. Medical experts, including Dr. Michael Klaper, a pioneer in plant-based medicine, and Dr. Caldwell Esselstyn, warn that an increase in animal products could lead to a rise in chronic diseases like heart attacks and type 2 diabetes. Kennedy argues that previous low-fat, high-carbohydrate guidelines failed to curb obesity and that animal proteins are essential for metabolic health, emphasizing the elimination of ultra-processed foods. Despite the federal shift, plant-based programs continue to expand due to high patient satisfaction, cost savings, environmental benefits, and the belief that clinical evidence supports plant-based diets for chronic disease prevention. In fullRFK Jr. wants meat back on hospital trays, no matter what cardiologists thinkThank you for registeringPlease refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in
Clinicians warn RFK Jr.’s animal protein push could be ‘biological time bomb’
Stay up to date with notifications from The IndependentNotifications can be managed in browser preferences.AllNewsSportCultureLifestyleFor years, doctors and advocates have pushed for better food on hospital trays (AFP via Getty)Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. announced new federal dietary guidelines which hospitals are mandated to follow, promoting increased consumption of red meat, eggs, and full-fat dairy, aiming to "Make America Healthy." This federal directive contradicts a growing trend in hospitals, such as NYC Health + Hospitals, which have successfully implemented plant-based default meal programs for patients. Medical experts, including Dr. Michael Klaper, a pioneer in plant-based medicine, and Dr. Caldwell Esselstyn, warn that an increase in animal products could lead to a rise in chronic diseases like heart attacks and type 2 diabetes. Kennedy argues that previous low-fat, high-carbohydrate guidelines failed to curb obesity and that animal proteins are essential for metabolic health, emphasizing the elimination of ultra-processed foods. Despite the federal shift, plant-based programs continue to expand due to high patient satisfaction, cost savings, environmental benefits, and the belief that clinical evidence supports plant-based diets for chronic disease prevention. In fullRFK Jr. wants meat back on hospital trays, no matter what cardiologists thinkThank you for registeringPlease refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in
